Do you ever wonder why you bother?

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I have had a few judges that really prefer that kind of big movement that the warmbloods find effortless... as the native horses and some of the more chunky ones were getting much lower marks than some of the warmbloods who were doing not as accurate tests!!!

How is your boy doing?

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See, now you are talking! I know what you mean and think the judge was having one of those days last time we were out.
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He warmed up beautifully, really working over his back, stretching in the warm up (which doesn't usually happen) went in and did a slightly rushed test but two good medium trots (normally gets 7s or 8s it's his best feature!), was soft and round for the majority of the test, did the best FWLR that he's ever done-I was quite happy
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Until we got a 6 for our medium trot and a 5 I think for the FWLR and the sheet was FULL of negative comments
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Had 56.?%
Second test I kept us together a lot more, got a good rhythm, slowed him down, rode each movement as well as I could and thought about all the other stuff too and yet still came out with another 56% and 6s for the medium trot even though it felt amazing
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2nd test had ONE positive comment.
I went home and looked at the other 8 tests sheets she's judged us in and she'd been so much more positive so I've just tried to write that day off and wait for the next attempt. Very annoying when there are only two judges who'll judge at your venue - she's judged us on 4 (8) occasions compared to the other judge whose judged us once in the last 5 months
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Sorry for my long ranty rambling reply!

He's going the best he's ever gone thanks to our week at Aderro a couple of weeks ago!
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That is great that he is feeling so great
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I was a bit suspicious after getting my result because apart from one spook, I felt Hannah had done a lovely test and even watched it as hubby had been camera man with the video camera, and yet she was still only early 60s. I watched a few other tests, and it was clear what kind of movement this judge preferred! It is times like this that it is so frustrating, because no matter how hard you work to get them 'correct', they will never have that movement!
 
All horses have off days, and a competition environment is stressful for both horse and rider. Most horses will be slightly different when out competing, and dont forget shes not done any competing for a long time.
 
Try riding a horse that dishes and she still gets 7's for her paces. Corroy is never going to be a dressage world beater, but then that's not what she's about and not why I bought her, she's a good jumper and a fantastic all rounder, which is prob what Hannah is. But you are very lucky that you have Grace as well as she is the flashy warmblood you want.
 
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I was a bit suspicious after getting my result because apart from one spook, I felt Hannah had done a lovely test and even watched it as hubby had been camera man with the video camera, and yet she was still only early 60s. I watched a few other tests, and it was clear what kind of movement this judge preferred! It is times like this that it is so frustrating, because no matter how hard you work to get them 'correct', they will never have that movement!

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I think you must just be feeling a bit down
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From what I saw Hannahs test was fine apart from her spook ! - but like you said you got her back and corrected it immediately. I saw a couple of flashy warmbloods warming up but they didnt strike me as particularly correct - interestingly my friend stayed later than me and she said one of them did the FSM straight after the Novice and went far better - possibly because the rider was far more relaxed and the pressure was off. I do think you get judges that are swayed by the big movement, but yesterdays cant have been one of them because my Sec D won. And flashy he aint
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Sorry... meant to say, the marks I was suspicious about were not the ones yesterday. I was talking about yesterday and her 2nd
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I'm confusing myself now...

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Sorry... meant to say, the marks I was suspicious about were not the ones yesterday. I was talking about yesterday and her 2nd
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I'm confusing myself now...

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Phew thats OK then - thought we must have been talking about a different judge - a Connemara won the prelim as well yesterday.
I honestly thought Hannah went a lot better than the warmbloods that were there yesterday - and the judge obviously agreed. If she hadnt been horrified by the blanket over his knees you would have won.
Plus you have Grace waiting in the wings to wow everyone
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She has never seen a judge on the floor before, they are usually in a car or in a hut
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How did you get on in the Prelim? I never asked you
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I am gutted I missed your test... hopefully when we go to the Freestyle we will finally meet up properly
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As it is, she was placed second with 64.7something%,

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What you worrying about then?

Just enjoy it and stop worrying about everyone else!!

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Thanks... I know she can be soft and ride quite nicely (today she had her saddle checked and because she has been ridden quite hard over the weekend she felt lovely this morning!), but sometimes I just think she will never be able to achieve the paces that some of the bigger horses find so easy.

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Glad you took that as being constructive as could have sounded quite harsh!
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He did OK, came third - had only been warming up a few minutes and the woman called him in. With hindsight we should have said it was too early and stuck to our time but the habit of obedience was too hard to break ! He was beaten by the connie that came joint second in the Novice. He woke up and went better in the Novice.
Yes its a shame I couldnt hang around, I would have liked to meet you and Hannah properly - but he had been waiting around in the box for a while and when I checked he was quite hot so I thought better to get him home. Put him out without a rug as it was so nice and he rolled like a hippo
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Checked the schedule and no date for the next training FSM session yet so I will keep an eye on the website and let you know when it appears
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Stop looking at the other horses!!!
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I know that's really hard to do but you've mentioned it a couple of times and I'd hazard a guess that's part of what is making you tense and perhaps not ride as "out there" as you can.

By the time you're there it's not something you can worry about anyway and as many people have said on here having a big, expensive horse is not the be all and end all of dressage. But showmanship is and if you even let yourself think for some reason you and your horse don't "deserve" to be there then it will affect your ride. Go out and show the judges that you deserve to be there. An old instructor of mine used to say, "Make them take it away!" - make them look for a reason not to give you the marks. Get yourself a good internal pep talk to turn on when you start thinking those depressing thoughts!

Being realistic means admitting good as well as bad. Keep in mind the things that go well, that are improving - it's a balance to be ambitious and careful without getting down on yourself but it can be done.

As to your horse, well, no one can help you get to the bottom of it on the internet. Presumably your instructor has ideas on the subject but perhaps a clinic or a "one off" with another trainer yours thinks highly of might give you a fresh perspective and a little more information. (Even if it's that everything is fine and just keep going as you are!)
 
The only way to change anything is to go out and buy a flashy horse.
Assuming you cant do this, it's up to you to train her to be as good as she can be and if she's willing, the sky's the limit!!

Dressage isnt about flashy paces (though you may be forgiven for thinking so occisionally!) it's about correct training and teaching the horse to carry itself to the best of ITS ability.

2nd is fantastic, especially if she wasnt at her best.
 
I often sort of feel like this with Axey, he is 1/2 Arab as you know and has a lovely Araby floaty trot but he's not big moving at all. He loves medium work though and his medium trot is fab, his medium canter is getting very uphill now too. He normally gets 7 or 8 for his paces.
I'm very happy with him but he just hasn't got that big warmblood trot that I love so much!
I was riding a friends Irish TB yesterday and he was so big moving it gave me backache bless him!
 
I don't really know much about dressage competitions but am going to my first this weekend so am sure i'll feel able to comment more after that!
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However 2nd place is great! Well done!
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I will be extremely happy if i get placed at all on Sunday!
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I don't expect great stuff from my horse really, he is some sort of irish mix, has a lovely trot, quite hairy legs for his type as he isn't really cobby and a high bum - not too helpful for dressage!
 
Do we ever wonder why we bother?

Yes

Constantly....

Especially when Gen is soft and lovely at home and then tense and spooky at competitions.

Or when we seem to constantly miss the qualifier by coming second by less than 1% (three times now) and have got a good %

Or when Gen does do a nice test but he is just not "flashy" enough.

Or when I am so tired from working and doing Gen (and Cally my foal) and being a mum and a housewife and the bills are more than the income and someone else has borrowed my lorry and not put diesel back in it and and and.....

OOOOH DEAR SORRY!!!
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I think sometimes we all need to relax and breathe. I am sure even Carl Hester has really cr@ppy days and feels just the same.
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Actually, you just hit on a good point.

One helpful "exercise" is to read as many biographies of riders as you can, especially the less "glossy" ones. It's eye opening to realise everyone has those thoughts, even the people you think are completely without nerves. It can also be useful to remind yourself how hard those people work and that they are constantly dissatisfied and trying to improve things, even as they win medals and championships. Not to mention lots of stories about horses they've struggled with and spent ages figuring out, sometimes even though it looked "okay" from the outside. It definitely helps with perspective!
 
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